ALEXANDER LAUKAKILA MCKEAGUEALEXANDER LAUKAKILA MCKEAGUE
Age 86, family patriarch Alexander Laukakila McKeague passed away March 12 following surgery at Tripler. Born in Kealakekua on August 28, 1924 to parents Marian Kelley and Jack "Kila" Laukakila McKeague. Raised in Kealia, Kauai . Age16, worked on a tugboat for Hawaiian Dredging. Age 17 during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, spending that day shuttling sailors from Ford Island, clearing debris and bodies from the harbor while dodging strafing bullets.
Age 21 enlisted in the U.S. Army and served primarily in the European sector where he would meet his wife, Hildegard Woelky of Germany. Briefly deployed to Japan to serve in support of the Korean War and also served in the Vietnam War, retiring from the military in 1967.
He worked a decade as a Car Salesman in Waihawa, then worked for the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard until retirement. A devout 7th Day Adventist, he would spend the rest of his life dedicated to the Lord and his family, specifically his wife, being her primary caregiver until her death in June of 2006.
Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, and uncle, he is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Hildegard, his son, Roland and daughter-in-law, Ulrike, brothers Jared, Gregory, Joseph, Albert, and John McKeague, and sister Marian Ishikawa. He is survived by sons, Melvin and Mark Kawika McKeague, daughter-in-law, Dorin McKeague, grandchildren Kelvin and Nicole, great grandchildren Kaden McKeague and Pepper Nascimento, brothers Stanley McKeague and Kelmar Weeks, sisters Millie Kahalekai, Evelyn Souza, and Puanani Uso.
Celebration of Life to be held at Hosoi Mortuary on April 23, visitation at 1000, service at 1100. Internment at Punchbowl on April 26 at 1030, public welcomed.